Armor piercing fragment and launcher

ABSTRACT

An armor defeating fragment launching device wherein a hemispherical tapered dish fragment is disposed at one end of a generally cylindrical explosive launcher. The opposite end of the launcher carries a detonator or blasting cap and includes a plane wave initiator of explosive composition B. The remaining portion of the launcher is of a high explosive main octol charge having imbedded therein proximate said fragment a generally conical plastic wave shaper. Intermediate the opposite end and main portions of the launcher is an inner cone of baratol explosive. The fragment may be of stainless steel or berylium copper.

United States Patent [191 Berlot et al.

[ ARMOR PIERCING FRAGMENT AND LAUNCHER [75] Inventors: Leslie Berlot, Flushing, N.Y.;

Seymour Kronman, Aberdeen, Md.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC.

{22] Filed: July 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,528

{52] U.S. Cl. 102/24 HC, 102/56, 102/DlG. 2 [51] Int. Cl. F42b 1/02, F42b 13/10 [58] Field of Search 102/24 HC, 56, DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1962 Leiberman et al. 102/24 HC 8/1963 Poulter 102/24 HC [451 Apr. 9, 1974 3,410,212 11/1968 Drimmer l02/DIG. 2

Primary Examiner-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Kelly; Herbert Berl [ ABSTRACT An armor defeating fragment launching device wherein a hemispherical tapered dish fragment is disposed at one end of a generally cylindrical explosive launcher. The opposite end of the launcher carries a detonator or blasting cap and includes a plane wave initiator of explosive composition B. The remaining portion of the launcher is of a high explosive main octol charge having imbedded therein proximate said fragment a generally conical plastic wave shaper. lntermediate the opposite end and main portions of the launcher is an inner cone of baratol explosive. The fragment may be of stainless steel or berylium copper.

8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PMENTEBAPR 9 i874 lNVEN'T'ORS ATE/s ARMOR PIERCING FRAGMENT AND LAUNCHER The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fragmentation systems and more particularly pertains to armor defeating or piercing fragment launching systems where the shape and launch velocity are such as to provide armor penetration of the projected fragment.

In the field of armor piercing launch systems it has been the general practice of munitions designers to endeavor to increase the velocity at which fragments are ejected from warheads, shells, etc. It has been felt that with greater fragment velocities, these items would achieve greater lethal areas and the fragments themselves would be capable of defeating harder targets. It was found however, that in increasing the initial fragment velocity, for penetration, resulted in breaking up at the target as well as jet formation. Thus, although techniques have been developed for propelling fragments at hypervelocities both design and fragment configuration were not available to meet the needs of target penetration. From the foregoing it is clear that an armor piercing launch system could be applied to practical munitions to develop a single warhead which would be effective against a wide range of targets such as personnel, material, vehicular and armored personnel carriers. The present invention solves these inherent limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of this invention is to provide an armor piercing fragment launch system that has all the advantages of similarly employed prior art devices and none of the above described disadvantages. To attain this, the present invention provides a unique explosive launch device coupled with one or more specific fragments. Specifically, the structure includes a generally cylindrical high explosive charge which has disposed at end of the main octol charge portion a flattened hemispherical tapered dish fragment. The opposite end portion includes a blasting cap connected to a plane wave initiator comprising an outer cylinder of composition 8 explosive and an inner cone of Baratol. Intermediate these portions is a conical plastic wave shaper.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, reliable and all-purpose armor defeating fragment launch system which is effective against a variety of different targets.

Another object is to provide an armor penetrating launch system which employs a tapered dish fragment that is explosively shaped during launch.

Still another object is to provide a fragment launching system which combines a plane wave initiator, a waveshaper and a specific fragment for an armor defeating device.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The single FIGURE illustrates, in cross-section, an embodiment made in accordance with the principle of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention the fragment launch charge 10 is essentially cylindrical and includes projecting one end thereof, a blasting means or cap 11 that is in direct contact with the upper portion which constitutes the plane wave initiator 12. The initiator comprises a cylindrical portion 13 of a composition B explosive and an axiallyidisposed right cylindrical cone 14 of Baratol explosive whose apex 15 is directed toward the blasting cap and whose base 16 constitutes the entire transverse section of the charge 10. The remaining main charge portion of the device which is of Octol explosive and includes an intermediate section 17. Disposed at the opposite end from the blasting cap is the fragment 18 which is to be launched and shaped in a configuration and launched at a hypervelocity in order to be able to penetrate armor. The fragment is embedded in the Octol proximate the end and is generally dish-shaped and inwardly tapered with the open face 19 directed outwardly. Intermediate the fragment 18 and the cone 14 there is disposed a plastic wave shaper 20 for forming the detonation wave to be propagated longitudinally along the cylinder 'axis to provide the maximum energy to the fragment from the initiated plane wave and subsequent activationthereby of the main Octol charge.

This unique combination upon detonation explosively shapes the tapered dish fragment into a high velocity rod-like projectile capable of piercing an armored target. The system, as well as the individual fragment, can be incorporated into a multiple configuration and thereby provide effectiveness over a wide area and against plural targets. The device of this invention I made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A fragment launch system comprising: a generally cylindrical body having connected at one end thereof an explosive initiating means, said body including, a planewave initiator portion proximate said initiating means, an intermediate main charge portion, a terminal portion having embedded therein a fragment to be launched, wherein said fragment is of a metal, dishshaped and inwardly tapered, and

a waveshaper means disposed intermediate said fragment and said planewave initiator means for shaping the explosive energy against said fragment.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said waveshaper is in the shape of a right cone coaxial with said cylindrical body and having its apex directed toward said planewave initiator means.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said planewave initiator comprises:

6. The system according to claim 4 wherein said fragment is of stainless steel.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said waveshaper is of a plastic.

8. The system according to claim 2 wherein said waveshaper is of a plastic.

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1. A fragment launch system comprising: a generally cylindrical body having connected at one end thereof an explosive initiating means, said body including, a planewave initiator portion proximate said initiating means, an intermediate main charge portion, a terminal portion having embedded therein a fragment to be launched, wherein said fragment is of a metal, dish-shaped and inwardly tapered, and a waveshaper means disposed intermediate said fragment and said planewave initiator means for shaping the explosive energy against said fragment.
 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said waveshaper is in the shape of a right cone coaxial with said cylindrical body and having its apex directed toward said planewave initiator means.
 3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said planewave initiator comprises: a cylinder of a first explosive composition having therein a coaxial right cone directed toward said initiating means and of a second composition.
 4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said first composition is composition B, said second composition is Baratol and said main charge is Octol.
 5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said fragment is of berylium copper.
 6. The system according to claim 4 wherein said fragment is of stainless steel.
 7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said waveshaper is of a plastic.
 8. The sYstem according to claim 2 wherein said waveshaper is of a plastic. 